⚠️Not yet hands-on tested.This review is compiled from manufacturer specifications, official documentation, and independent testing from other reviewers — we have not tested this product ourselves. We're working on getting a review unit to publish an updated, hands-on version.
The Nest thermostat 4th generation UK launch never happened: Google has not sold the 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat in the UK and confirmed in April 2025 that it will not. It is a US and Canada product. UK buyers can only get the older 3rd-gen and Thermostat E, while stocks last.
Verdict: Don't buy
Google Nest
Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
✗ Not sold in the UK and not designed for UK heating systems
- Never launched in the UK, and Google has ruled out any UK release
- Tado X is the closest supported replacement
See the Tado X alternative →
Is the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th gen available in the UK?
No. Google announced the 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat in August 2024 for the US and Canada only. In April 2025 it said that heating systems in Europe have "a variety of hardware and software requirements that make it challenging to build for the diverse set of homes", and that the 4th generation and future models will not launch in Europe. As of October 2026 that has not changed.
An earlier version of this article described a UK launch at £119.99. That was wrong, and we have rewritten it. If you want a replacement for an ageing thermostat, start with our guide to the best Nest thermostat replacements in the UK, the Tado Smart Thermostat X or our Hive thermostat guide.
Pros
- A well-reviewed design in the US, with a bigger display and improved learning
- The Nest Temperature Sensor can help in rooms the thermostat does not cover
Cons
- Not sold in the UK, with no Google warranty or support route here
- Built for US low-voltage HVAC wiring, not UK boiler controls
- No UK-compatible Heat Link receiver exists for it
Why did Google not bring it to Europe?
Google blamed the variety of European heating systems. UK homes mix combi boilers, system boilers with hot-water cylinders, OpenTherm and plain on/off relay controls, and Nest thermostats have always needed a separate Heat Link receiver there. Building and certifying that for each market was evidently not worth it. The practical result is that no new Nest thermostat will arrive in the UK.
Can I import a US Nest 4th-gen thermostat?
You should not. The US unit is designed around North American 24V HVAC wiring, and the UK Heat Link that earlier generations relied on does not pair with it. There is no UK warranty, no Google support route, and Google has not published a supported way to run it on a UK boiler. Wiring a mains-connected heating control wrongly is also a safety risk, so a Gas Safe engineer would be needed regardless.
What can you still buy from Nest in the UK?
Only the 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat (2015) and the Nest Thermostat E (2018), both sold while supplies last. Both still receive security updates according to Google and work in the Google Home app, but they are old designs with no successor coming. Our 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat UK review covers whether buying one new or refurbished still makes sense, and installation costs are covered separately.
What should you buy instead?
Tado Smart Thermostat X: the closest modern match. It has geofencing, learning-style automation and Matter support, and the Tado X review shows how it fits a UK boiler. Some features sit behind a subscription.
Hive: the simplest choice if you want an engineer-installed system with a UK support network. See the Hive thermostat guide.
Comparisons: for a head-to-head, read Tado vs Nest and Hive vs Tado vs Nest. The full shortlist is in best Nest thermostat replacement UK.
Who should still care about the Nest 4th gen?
Mostly people reading US reviews and wondering whether a UK release is coming. It is not. If you live in the UK and want Nest specifically, the choice is a 3rd-gen or Thermostat E while stock remains, knowing that no newer model will follow. Everyone else is better served by a supported alternative.
Verdict
Do not wait for the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th generation in the UK, because it is not coming. Buy a thermostat Google or its maker actually supports here, with Tado X as our first pick and Hive as the installer-led option. The one caveat is that Nest 3rd-gen stock may still be discounted, but you would be buying a 2015 design with no future hardware.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th gen available in the UK?
- No, the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th generation is not available in the UK. Google launched it in the US and Canada in 2024 and said in April 2025 that the 4th generation and future Nest thermostats will not launch in Europe, citing the variety of European heating hardware. The only Nest thermostats still sold in the UK are the older 3rd-gen Learning Thermostat and the Thermostat E, and only while supplies last. The caveat is that retailers and marketplaces may list US units, but those are imports without UK support. If you want a new smart thermostat, choose one that is designed and supported for UK boilers instead of waiting for a launch that Google has ruled out.
- Will the Nest 4th gen thermostat ever launch in the UK?
- Google has said it will not. In April 2025 it confirmed it would stop developing new Nest thermostats for Europe, so the 4th-generation Nest Learning Thermostat and any future models are not expected to reach the UK. Google continues to provide security updates for the 3rd generation and Thermostat E, and said their Home app control would improve. That is support for old hardware rather than a sign of new products. The caveat is that company plans can change, but there is no announcement suggesting it will. If your current thermostat is failing, replacing it now with a supported alternative such as Tado X or Hive is more sensible than waiting.
- Can I import a US Nest 4th gen thermostat and use it in the UK?
- Importing a US Nest 4th-gen thermostat is not a sensible option. It is built for North American 24V heating systems, and earlier Nest thermostats needed a separate Heat Link receiver to switch a UK boiler, which does not work with the 4th generation. You would also have no UK warranty or Google support, and it would not be designed for UK combi or system boiler controls. Because it involves mains-connected heating wiring, a Gas Safe registered engineer would be needed, and they may refuse to fit it. The caveat is that forum posts describe workarounds, but none are supported by Google. A UK-designed thermostat avoids these problems entirely.
- What is the best alternative to the Nest 4th gen thermostat in the UK?
- The best alternative for most UK homes is the Tado Smart Thermostat X, which offers geofencing, app control, Matter support and automatic scheduling features similar to what people want from a Nest. Hive is the better pick if you want an engineer-installed system with UK support behind it. Both are designed for UK boilers and are actively sold, unlike the 3rd-gen Nest, which Google is selling off while supplies last. The caveat is that some Tado features need a paid subscription, and Hive works best with its own hub. Our best Nest thermostat replacement guide compares the main options by price, boiler compatibility and smart home support.
›How we researched this
Claims in this article are checked against primary sources — manufacturer specifications, official documentation, Which? research, Ofgem guidance, or gov.uk — rather than forum threads or video reviews. Where the author has direct hands-on experience with a product (most Home Assistant, Zigbee, and home-networking gear is running in his own homelab), that is stated explicitly in the text.
For categories outside that personal setup — such as boilers, heat pumps, and other areas that are traditionally a heating engineer's domain — verdicts are built from cross-referenced manufacturer data, published lab results, and vetted expert and owner reviews rather than a claim of personal hands-on testing. See the editorial policy for the full methodology.
Citing this page? Please use a dofollow link back to the original article — it helps us keep the data on this page accurate and up to date.
